89-year-old man secures doctoral degree from Karnatak University

DHARWAD: An 89-year-old man from the city has proved that age is just a number when it comes to academic pursuits. Markandeya Doddamani, a resident of Jayanagar, here, has secured a doctoral degree after completing his PhD from the Chair of Kannada Studies at the Karnatak University.

Markandeya Doddamani, who studies several Shivasharanas, picked six vachanas of Dohaara Kakkayya, presented a study about the Shivasharana. This is perhaps for the first time in the state that a researcher has earned a doctoral degree at such a ripe age.

Markandeya has written a 150-page essay on Dohaara Kakkayya after collecting information about him for the last 18 years, travelling to Kadrolli, Kakkeri and other places. But since his guide passed away in the interim, his doctoral degree was delayed.

Later, Dr Ningappa guided Doddamani in his research. Doddamani’s thesis covers the history of the Dohaara community, Basavanna’s recollection of Kakkayya in his vachanas, his death near Dharwad and ties with Shivasharanas who came from as far as Gujarat, Kashmir and Tamil Nadu.